At the ARC/GNY-Staten Island Chrysanthemum Ball – left to right seated: Dr. John Abraham (honoree), Suzanne Lutz (director, ARC/GNY-Staten Island), Mrs. Aileen Balbas (daughter of Senator John Marchi, main honoree); left to right standing: Ted Perednia (ARC/GNY-Staten Island board chair and event co-chair), Sherry Diamond (honoree), Dr. Brian Mignola (honoree), Madeline Frank (ARC/GNY-Staten Island board member and VP at Northfield Savings Bank, which was an honoree), John Alexander (CEO of Northfield Savings, which was an honoree) and Mr. Bert Balbas (son-in-law of Senator John Marchi). (Photo: Staten Island Advance)

Four longtime supporters of ARC/GNY-Staten Island were honored at the annual Chrysanthemum Ball at the Richmond County Country Club in Dongan Hills on October 20.

State Senator John J. Marchi received The Chairman's Award for his longtime financial commitment to ARC/GNY. As a member of the United States Coast Guard during World War II, Senator Marchi learned about the important work conducted by the American Red Cross. His commitment to supporting the Staten Island office is well known and longstanding.

Sherry Diamond of Great Kills received the Rollanda Cowles Helping Hands Award for her longtime service to ARC/GNY and the community at large. Ms. Diamond started with ARC/GNY as a candy striper at Bailey Seaton Hospital while she was in high school and she has continued to show her support while district manager for Congressman Vito Fossella.

Dr. John Abraham of Ward Hill received the Dr. Norbert H. Leesberg Make a Difference Award for his humanitarian work overseas after the tsunami and earthquake in Indonesia. Dr. Abraham has been a leader in providing financial and medical support to India since the early 1980s. He has lead many medical teams to India to support the free medical clinic that he opened there. He helped eradicate the many diseases that are practically unknown here in the United States but are still deadly in that part of the world.

Northfield Savings Bank received the Harriman Award for its longtime support of the Staten Island office of ARC/GNY. Northfield Savings Bank will be celebrating its 120th birthday in 2007. Since it opened, Northfield Savings has been a supporter of local organizations such as the Red Cross. It has provided financial backing to the Red Cross in Staten Island, for operations during 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, and for international relief efforts after the tsunami.

"Our honorees are incredibly supportive and dedicated to the mission of the American Red Cross,” said Suzanne Lutz, director, ARC/GNY-Staten Island. “They understand the importance of the work we do, and that no one else does the work we do.”